So here we are, a full year into a global pandemic, and it's not over yet. We hope you are safe and being safe. At the same time we really miss our music, and there are so many talented artists who need venues for their work. So...without too much thought or planning, we introduce One Tree Many Branches Impromptu, a special virtual series for our loyal patrons where we offer intimate screen time on Zoom with some of our favorite (and uber-talented) Chicago-area artists. Spread the word. Invite a friend. Even pour a drink if that suits you. And stay at home the entire time.

One Tree Many Branches is made possible by the support of our generous donors.  Thank you!

Blue Violet Duo "excel at both extremes, from the nuanced and restrained to the incandescent and extravagant" (Stringendo magazine). Formed in 2013, the Chicago based duo was born of a friendship and musical kinship and enjoyed immediate recognition, winning a competition that led to their performance in Carnegie's Weill Hall in New York in February of 2014. Their 2018 debut album, American Souvenirs, received critical recognition and was selected as WFMT's "New Release of the Day" in October 2018. They enjoy bringing to light lesser-known, engaging works to surprise and delight audiences everywhere. 

Percussionist Kevin Kosnik takes us on a tour of his wonderful instrument collection.  Along the way, we might hear some Bach on a Marimba, a little Ragtime on a Xylophone, or even a Tango on a Vibraphone.  A native of Northbrook, IL, Kevin is a member of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic percussion section as well as the primary drumset player for the Philharmonic’s Pops series.  Prior to his Fort Wayne gig, he was a freelance percussionist based in Chicago while serving as a member of the Battle Creek (MI) Symphony and as a substitute/extra player with groups including the San Diego Symphony, Kansas City Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Sarasota Orchestra, Rockford Symphony, Illinois Symphony, Peoria Symphony, Northwest Indiana Symphony, and Lansing Symphony.

When he’s not percussing, Kevin enjoys cooking and collecting vinyl records.  He is also an active bicyclist, camper, and hiker who has thus far summited 19 of the 53 14,000+ foot mountains in Colorado.

In October of 2016 we were wowed with a riveting and powerful performance by violinist Olga Kaler. On Saturday, we multiply that performance by three, as husband Ilya and son Daniel join her for another "friends and family" version of One Tree Many Branches IMPROMPTU.

Ilya Kaler is a Russia-born virtuoso violinist. Born and educated in Moscow, Kaler is the only person to have won Gold Medals at all three of the major International violin competitions: Tchaikovsky Competition (Moscow, 1986), the Sibelius (Helsinki, 1985), and the Paganini (Genoa, 1981). He is a former Professor of Violin at the Eastman School of Music, Indiana University and DePaul University. He is currently Professor of Violin at the Cleveland Institute of Music. 

Olga Dubossarskaya Kaler is also Russian-born, has won numerous awards and after spending over a decade on the DePaul University facility, is currently Professor of Violin at the Cleveland Institute of Music. She is a highly sought artist-teacher and guest clinician, and has performed as a soloist and chamber musician across the globe.

Praised by critics and listeners alike for his “warm and luminous tone” (Chicago Music Report), Daniel Kaler is recognized by many as a rising star of his generation. Kaler received his Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music in 2019, having studied with Mark Kosower. He currently studies with Brinton Smith at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music.

You may remember Marina from her April 2019 performance on our stage as part of Quatro Voce. The quartet performed selections by Brahms and Mahler, as well as Mischa Zupko's composition for piano quartet, Occupy. It was an amazing performance! On April 24th, we welcome her to our virtual stage for another "friends and family" concert. 

A native of Edmonton, a two-time Grammy nominee and a graduate of the Curtis School of Music and Yale University, Marina Hoover was the founding cellist of the St. Lawrence String Quartet, which rocketed to international prominence in the 1990’s after winning both the Young Concert Artists auditions and the Banff International String Quartet Competition. In her 13 years with the St. Lawrence, Ms. Hoover performed at The White House, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 92nd Street “Y,” The Kennedy Center (for the Emperor of Japan), Wigmore Hall (London), Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), and Theatre De Ville (Paris). In addition, the quartet made regular appearances at Tanglewood, the Newport Festival, Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, Ottawa Chamber Music Festival, and was the resident quartet a Charleston’s Spoleto USA from 1996-2002. Ms. Hoover was the artist-in-residence at Stanford, a teacher with the Chicago String Quartet and Music Institute of Chicago, and a member of Trio Voce. Today, Ms. Hoover divides her time playing chamber music and as a coloratura soprano, studying voice with Jina Varis. 

We are truly fortunate to have her perform for us. Don't miss it!